St Patrick’s Day isn’t really a holiday that gets a lot of celebrating and themed desserts, and I think it should be! I love St Patrick’s day! That’s why I wanted to create a fun, green inspired sugar cookie for my blog! Meet, the Shamrock Sugar Cookies! These cookies will ‘Shamrock Your Socks Off’! Made with powdered sugar, green sanding sugar, and green food coloring! I top these cookies with a delicious drizzle of royal icing. Make it with me!

Shamrock Sugar Cookies

You know a sugar cookie is good when it doesn’t require a ton of frosting for it to taste yummy! To be honest, I am not a huge frosting fan. And frankly, I hate the process of ‘frosting’ something more than I hate frosting itself. You’ll notice on my blog that many recipes have things ‘drizzled’ over top of them. That’s no mistake haha. Drizzling is 10x easier than worrying about getting the frosting just right.

Where to buy the ingredients

You’ll notice that in this recipe, I have actually rolled the green sprinkles right there into the cookie. I did this on purpose to give the cookies a pretty, glittery effect. My favorite sprinkles to use for this is sanding sugar and you get it at Orson Gygi.

Shamrock Your Socks Off

The phrase, Shamrock Your Socks Off, actually comes from a race in St George that I have ran every year for the past 3 years. It’s the Shamrock 10K down Snow Canyon and it’s the prettiest race I have ever done! I’m signed up to run it again this year and I am so excited! I will celebrate with my race inspired cookies after I cross the finish line 🙂

Coloring the Cookies

When coloring dough, I think it is easiest to add the coloring after I’ve creamed together the butter and sugars, and before I add the dry ingredients. This is because it’s easier to make sure the coloring is full incorporated in the wet ingredients than in the finished dough. It also helps with avoiding overmixing.

Dozens and Dozens of Cookies

This recipe makes A LOT of sugar cookies. Feel free to half the recipe if you only need a dozen or so. Or you can make up all the dough, then half it a freeze the half you don’t use!

How to make these cookies

Shamrock Sugar Cookies 

Yields 2 dozen (or more depending on your size of cookie cutter)

1 1/2 cups butter, softened to cool room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla 3-4 drops green food coloring
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
A teaspoon salt green sanding sugar sprinkles  
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 tbls milk
2 tsps light corn syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla extract and green food coloring.     Next, add flour, baking powder, and salt and mix on a low speed just until flour is incorporated and the dough is smooth and soft. Dust a counter with powdered sugar or flour and roll the dough to desired thickness. Sprinkle sanding sugar over dough and roll over a couple of times to make it stick.   Cut the dough into shapes. Place the cookies on a lined or lightly greased baking sheet.    Bake for 7-8 minutes, don’t let them overbake!   

Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack before frosting.

FOR THE FROSTING:

Add powdered sugar, milk, corn syrup, and vanilla to a clean bowl. Blend with a handheld mixer until it is mostly lump free. If it’s too thick, add water by the drop (a little goes a long way). If it’s too thin, add more confectioner’s sugar. You want this consistency thick, but thin enough to drizzle.    Drizzle icing onto cooled cookies.      

Like this recipe and want to save it for later? Pin it to Pinterest here!